Netflix kills off House of Cards

Netflix kills off House of Cards

NETFLIX series House of Cards has been cancelled hours after allegations against series star Kevin Spacey.

House of Cards is currently filming its sixth season and US trade media, including TVLine and Deadline, have cited multiple sources that the political drama will end next year.

While Netflix has not officially commented on the fate of the show or the accusations against Spacey, the timing of the news of the series' demise has not gone unnoticed.

It's not uncommon for a TV show to end after six years, House of Cards is seen as flagpole show for Netflix, primarily because it was its first.

The show was showered with critical acclaim in its first few years, but the reaction to subsequent seasons has been more tepid.

House of Cards debuted in 2013 and was an immediate hit for the streaming network. It's racked up 53 Emmy nominations in the five years since then, including several for Spacey as Best Actor in a Drama Series.

The thriller was based on a 1990s UK series and was Netflix's first venture into original programming. The series was developed by Beau Willimon and David Fincher. Willimon left the series after season four.

Star Trek: Discovery actor Anthony Rapp accused Spacey of making inappropriate "sexual advances" when Rapp was 14 years old and Spacey was in his mid-20s.

Rapp said in an interview with Buzzfeed that he was aware that Spacey was "trying to get with me sexually" in an incident in 1986.

Spacey released a statement apologising for his actions, which he claimed he doesn't remember, and using the opportunity to confirm rumours he is gay.

He said: "If I did behave then as he describes, I owe him the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behaviour and I am sorry for the feeling he describes having carried with him all these years."

Spacey went on to write: "In my life, I have had relationships with both men and women. I have loved and had romantic relationships with men throughout my life, and I choose now to live as a gay man."

The Oscar-winning actor has been widely criticised for his statement with his detractors accusing him of using revelations of his sexuality to deflect from Rapp's allegations.

House Of Cards: Robin Wright as Claire Underwood and right Kevin Spacey as Frank Underwood.

House of Cards creator Beau Willimon addressed the saga in a statement, saying, "During the time I worked with Kevin Spacey on House of Cards, I neither witnessed nor was aware of any inappropriate behaviour on set or off".

"That said, I take reports of such behaviour seriously and this is no exception. I feel for Mr. Rapp and I support his courage."

Netflix made a big leap of faith in 2013 by making the scripted drama one of its first forays into the world of original programming. Today, Netflix is known for hit shows such as Stranger Things, Narcos, 13 Reasons Why, Orange is the New Black, Fuller House and many more.

According to Entertainment Weekly, House of Cards recently began filming its sixth season.

Rapp said that in 1986, Spacey, a fellow Broadway actor at the time, invited Rapp to his apartment for a party. Later in the evening, Spacey, then 26, allegedly "picked Rapp up, placed him on his bed, and climbed on top of him, making a sexual advance," according to the report.

Rapp recalled he pushed Spacey off of him, went to a bathroom and closed the door, thinking: "What is happening?" He told Spacey he had to go home, to which he allegedly asked if he was "sure" he wanted to do that.

Rapp, who came forward less than a month after accusations against mega-producer Harvey Weinstein led to his Hollywood downfall, said he decided to speak out "not to simply air a grievance … but to try to shine another light on the decades of behaviour that have been allowed to continue because many people, including myself, being silent".

Spacey tweeted that he does not remember the alleged encounter, saying it would have been over 30 years ago.

"But if I did behave then as he describes, I owe him the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behaviour," Spacey wrote. "And I am sorry for the feelings he describes having carried with him all these years."